Reservoir for liquid soap



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B. LEE. RESERVOIR FOR LIQUID SOAP.

Patented Nov. 10, 1896."

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RESERVOIR FOR LIQUID SOAP.

Patnted Nov. 10, 1896.

IIIII I IIIUM UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ELMER LEE, or cIIIoAeo, ILLINOIS.

RESERVOIR FQR LIQUID SOAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,935, dated November10, 1896. Application filed March 31, 1894. Serial No. 505,857. (Nomodel.)

To (Lu-10700777, it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER LEE, ofChicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReservoirs for Liquid Soap, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to certain imp ovements in reservoirs (fordispensing liquid soap for toilet purposes) of the character describedin my application, Serial No. 463,029, filed February 20, 1893; and thepresent improvements relate more particularly to the provision of areservoir which will not corrode and which is of a form to provide forso attaching the valve that the latter may be operated to draw oit allof the liquid from the body of the reservoir, while the valve maybe keptat all times submerged in the liquid, so as to keep it lubricatedthereby and prevent its corrosion. The form of the valve and itssupports is also improved.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the reservoir in elevationand its means of support. Fig. 1 shows the manner of using the device.Figs. 2 to 5 and 2 to 5*, inclusive, are details showing the preferredconstruction of the valve and certain modifications thereof, and showingalso its manner of attachment to the reservoir.

In the drawings, 6 represents a reservoir which is composed of crystalglass, its main body being cylindrical and slightly tapered from end toend, as indicated by the dotted vertical line of Fig. 1. The ends of thecylinder are shouldered, and beyond the shoulders are projectingopen-ended necks 6 6 which form, respectively, filling and dischargeopenings. To the neck 6 is applied the cap or closure '7, having aminute perforation 7 to admit air above the liquid, and to the neck 6 isapplied a cap 8, having a central aperture 8 axially of thedischargeopening. Ooncentrically within this cap Sis the thimble 10, asshown in Figs. 2 and 4, having its upper end interiorly threaded toadapt it to receive the treaded plug 11. Said plug is centrally andvertically bored to furnish an aperture through which the valve-stem 12may play, said valve-stem having a small metallic collar or washer 13thereon and below said collaror washer a valve 14. A coiled spring 15surrounds the valve-stem, its upper end bearing upon the under side ofthe plug and its lower end bearing on the metallic collar of thevalve-stem. Said valve-stem is made long enough so that its lower endprotrudes through the aperture of the cap. The cap 8 and thimble 10 aresecured to the neck 6 by means of a suitable cement, (indicated at 1718.)

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the screw-plug has the vertical apertures 19,through which the liquid soap may find its wayinto the sub-' chamber 20,where it will be confined until by a slight pressure of or blow from thehand on the protruding end of the valve-stem the valve will be unseatedand permit a quantity of soap contained in said subchainber to escapethrough the aperture in the lower end of the cap and around thevalve-stem into the palm of the hand. The aperture in the cap is ofcourse sufficientl y larger in diameter than the valve-stem to permitsuch escape.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4cand 5, instead of the apertures 19,I have shown the upper end of the valve-stem as hollow, as seen at 21,with transverse apertures 22 in its walls, which will permit the liquidsoap to flow down through such hollow stem and escape into thesubchamber through the openings in the wall of the valve-stem. In thisconstruction when the valve-stem is raised the apertures will be closedby passing above the plane of the lower face of the screw-plug as to theupper apertures, and the lower ones will be closed by the closeimpingement of the coils of the spiral spring. The flow of the soap isthus cut off in this case while the valve is unseated.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the threaded plug 11 is omitted andinstead thereof the metal is struck up to form an inverted cup 11, inwhich is telescoped a cup 10. In this construction also the valve-stemis scored longitudinally, as seen at 22, Fig. 2, and the aperture 8 inthe cap 8 is of such form that its walls closely encircle the valve-stemexcept at the score, so that the stem is guided in its reciprocations.The collar has a lip 13, which enters the score in the valve-stem andcuts off the flow of the liquid when the valve is held to its seat. Whenthe stem is raised, the liquid in the subchamber flows out. In Figs. 3and 4c, the latter being a bottom plan View, the score in the valve-stemis omitted, and the aperture 8 is laterally enlarged to permit theescape of the liquid when the valve is raised. In the construction shownin Fig. the cap 8 is provided with an internal integral flange S whichsurrounds the discharge-aperture and forms a guide for the valve-stem,which has apertures at different elevations therein, so that some ofthem are normally covered by the flange, while the lower apertures arenear the bottom of the valve-stein and exterior to the chamber 20. Theapertures are connected by a longitudinal bore of the valve-stem. Inthis construction the spring is seated on the upper end of thevalve-stem and surrounds a flange 11 on an inverted cup 11 which latteris telescoped over the flange 8 To afliX the reservoir in place, I haveprovided the annular supporting-ring 23, having a bracket-arm 24-,provided with arose or flush-plate 25 and a screw 26. Thesupporting-ring, bracket-arm, rose, and screw may be formed in onepiece. \Vhen the reservoir is made slightly tapered, it will wedgeitself into this ring when inserted therein from above, thus supportingit in the desired position and fitting the ring so tightly that it willnot be moved upward by pressure on the valvcstein suflicient to unseatthe valve. The fixture may be readily secured in place by inserting thereservoir in the ring and then using the resery'oir as a handle to turnthe screw into place.

To withdraw a quantity of the liquid soap for toilet use, the palm ofthe hand is placed underneath the reservoir, and, by a slight upwardpressure or blow upon the protruding end of the valve-stem, the valve israised and the liquid soap flows down into the palm. The amountwithdrawn at a single actuation will be determined by the extent towhich the valve is raised above and the length of time it is held offits seat in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, while inthe construction shown in Figs. a and 5' the quantity withdrawn willdepend upon the size of the subchamber and the extent to which the flowof the soap is cut off by closing of the perforations in the valve-stem.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is providedaconvenient method of and means for dispensing liquid soap, which can befurnished as an appurtenance to a lavatory, and the device may form oneof the fixtures of a bath-tub, stationary wash bowl or stand. It can beso arranged that it will not take up any room required for otherpurposes. It takes the place of the unsightly soap-dish and furnishes asuperior form of soap in an economical manner and without any liabilityof spreading contagion by personal contact with the soap. The

particular construction of the supporting bracket and also of the valvemay be varied. I prefer to use a glass reservoir because it will notcorrodeand because, by reason of its transparency, the quality andquantity of soap can at all times be observed. By locating the valvebelow the plane of the bottom of the reservoir the latter may be drainedof soap while the valve is kept submerged, thus providing for itsthorough lubrication and preventing its corrosion.

lVhile I have described my improved fixture as particularly adapted forthe dispensing of liquid soap, I do not of course intend to limit myinvention to this single use, as I contemplate employing the same fordispensing toilet-waters, perfumes, and other lotions or liquids.

It will be understood that some of the details of construction maybevaried. For example,that part which I have called the cap. for the lowerend of the reservoir may be omitted where some vitreous material otherthan glass is employed, the particular use of the cap being to cover thecemented joint between the'valve-support and the neck. I do not confinemy invention to glass as the material from which the reservoir is to beconstructed, because other vitreous material may be employed. Glass isin all cases preferred because of its transparency.

I claim 1. A reservoir for liquid soap, comprising a glass bodyconstricted at its ends to provide annular necks, a cap or closureapplied to the upper neck and a second cap having a perforation in itsbottom applied to the lower neck, and a valve to control thedischarge-aperture supported by the cap, the valve-stem protrudingthrough the aperture thereof, substantially as described.

2. In areservoir for dispensing liquid soap, the combination with acontaining-bodyhaving a filling-opening and a neck at its lower endproviding a discharge-aperture, a thimble supported within the neck andhaving a perforated closure at its upper end and a discharge-opening atits lower end whereby there is provided a subchamber below the closureand a valve whose stem has a bearing in the closure and its lower endprovided with a discharge-aperture, substantially as described.

In a reservoir for dispensing liquid soap, the combination with acontaining-body having a filling-opening and a neck at its lower end, athimble applied interiorly of the neck, a perforated closure for theupper end of said thimble, a valve applied to the discharge-aperture andthe valve-stein entering the aperture and having a bearing toward itslower end against the walls of the discharge-aperture, said valve-stemhaving a score or channel to provide an inlet to and an outlet from thesubchamber, substantially as described.

ELMER LEE. \Vitnesses FREDERICK (J. Goonwnv, N. M. BOND.

